A 1999 graduate of Marietta High School was named Ohio Teacher of the Year for District 10 this summer.

Tracy Binegar Huggins has taught at Pattison Elementary School in Milford for 13 of her 16-year career and is currently an art teacher. She said she also taught at Caldwell Elementary for three years.

“I was quite honored to be chosen for District 10,” Huggins said. “District 10 is a big district. I didn’t even know how I was nominated at first, but I was nominated by the superintendent and my principal.”

She grew up in Marietta and after graduating high school, received her teaching degree from Ohio University in 2003 and her master’s in education from Xavier University in 2007.

While at Marietta High, she lettered in basketball, volleyball and was the school mascot. She was inducted into the Marietta High School Hall of Fame in 2016.

“My heart is in Marietta. It’s such a great place,” she said.

The Ohio Department of Education notes nominations are open February through early April and anyone can nominate a teacher. After an in-depth nomination process, 11 State Board District Teachers of the Year were selected.

“I had to write a few essays and have reference letters,” Huggins said. “There were upwards of 20 people that were nominated.”

She said as the district Teacher of the Year, she’ll get to be a part of a consortium meeting in Columbus, where she’ll meet with the state superintendent and help advocate different platforms.

In announcing the winners, the ODE noted Huggins was chosen because “fostering creativity, enthusiasm, lifelong learning and empathy, Huggins feels her classroom is successful because students feel comfortable being brave, authentic and challenged.”

Their website states “Huggins also has established a reputation for building positive relationships with both students and colleagues. She reinforces the idea that every student and staff member should feel valued and respected through communication, collaboration and compassion.”

Pattison Elementary’s website posted a note of congratulations for Huggins’ award.

“Mrs. Huggins was nominated for this award for her dedication and passion to the teaching profession,” noted Tiffany Selm, school principal, in the statement. “She has the outstanding ability to maintain rigor while providing a nurturing and caring classroom environment, addressing all of the needs of her students. Our Pattison students love her, believe in her, and follow her lead because they trust her. She makes a positive and profound difference in the classroom, our school, and our entire Milford district. She is an outstanding role model with an engaging personality. She always searches for the best in everyone!”

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.

At a glance:

¯ Marietta High School graduate named Ohio Teacher of the Year for District 10.

¯ Tracy Binegar Huggins has been teaching 16 years.

¯ She is an art teacher at Pattison Elementary School in Milford.

Source: Tracy Binegar Huggins.